After missing LSU’s last four games for undisclosed reasons, Tigers star Angel Reese said she was “just happy to be back” Thursday, scoring 19 points in 29 minutes as No. 7 LSU defeated No. 9 Virginia Tech 82-64 in a Final Four rematch.
Reese had not played since she was benched in the second half of LSU’s win over Kent State on Nov. 14. Coach Kim Mulkey declined to provide much detail about her absence in between.
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Reese called it a “long week and a half to two weeks” being away from the team. “Taking time to yourself” was important, she said, allowing her to reset and refocus. Asked who she leaned onto while she was away, Reese said her mom and that she spoke with Shaquille O’Neal every day.
“We FaceTimed every day. He checked on me, called me every single day to make sure I was good,” Reese said.
Reese went 5-of-10 shooting from the floor and added nine rebounds and two assists Thursday. She also recorded her 1,000th career rebound.
The second quarter was the decider as LSU (8-1) outscored Virginia Tech 22-9 and held the Hokies (5-2) to 19 percent shooting from the floor.
Mulkey became the fastest women’s basketball coach to 700 career wins with the victory.
Mulkey praised Reese, calling what she saw on the court “special.”
“Angel is Angel,” Mulkey said. “I’m proud of Angel. Proud to see her back out there. Proud of this team.”
How did Reese look in her return?
Reese finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, but foul trouble kept her on the bench through key stretches for the Tigers. She picked up her second foul with a few seconds remaining in the first quarter, keeping her on the bench for eight minutes in the second quarter. And she picked up her third midway through the third quarter and sat for the final five minutes of that quarter.
But Reese was an important part of the Tigers’ strong start to the third quarter, adding four points, two rebounds and an assist as LSU jumped out on an 18-8 run to start the second half.
As expected, Reese was active on the glass and in the paint. She did a great job of getting to the free-throw line, but struggled to convert once there. The 82 percent free throw shooter only hit 9-of-16 free throw attempts. — Chantel Jennings, senior women’s basketball writer
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What was the most impressive piece of the Tigers’ win?
Aneesah Morrow. The junior finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks and three steals.
In Reese’s absence, Morrow established herself as the most important player on the Tigers’ talented roster. Could she keep that up even with Reese’s return? Seems possible.
She was the main driver in the Tigers’ offensive push during the second and third quarters against the Hokies and when Reese got into foul trouble, Morrow switched onto All-American Elizabeth Kitley (who had a five-inch advantage on Morrow). She led the Tigers with three steals and was an active disruptor in passing lanes and causing turnovers. — Jennings
What they’re saying
“This place was amazing tonight and I’m just happy to be here with them,” Reese said.
Backstory
Reese missed four straight games for the Tigers. When asked for an explanation following LSU’s win over Kent State, Mulkey said she “could” provide one, “but I won’t. It was just a coach’s decision.” After LSU’s victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 17, Mulkey addressed Reese’s absence by saying, “It’s very obvious Angel was not in uniform. Angel is a part of this basketball team, and we hope to see her sooner rather than later.”
Following the Tigers’ win over Texas Southern on Nov. 20, Mulkey added, “You always have to deal with locker room issues. That’s just part of coaching.” Reese, the Most Outstanding Player at last year’s Final Four, was not with the program for its two games at the Cayman Islands Classic last weekend against Niagara and Virginia.
Required reading
(Photo: Matthew Hinton / USA Today)